According to a new study by Rackspace Hosting – The Human Cloud: Wearable Technology from Novelty to Productivity, 82 per cent of those users in America and 71 per cent in Britain believe that these cloud-powered devices have enhanced their lives.
The study was conducted in association with the Centre for Creative and Social Technology (CAST) at Goldsmiths, University of London and looked into the attitudes and behaviors regarding wearable technology among 4,000 UK and US adults.
Key findings from the survey respondents who have used wearable technology include:
- 63 per cent of UK and 71 per cent of American respondents stated that wearable tech has improved their health and fitness
- One in three respondents in the UK and USA believe that wearable tech has helped their career development
- 39 per cent of UK respondents and 53 per cent of US respondents say that wearable tech has made them feel more intelligent
- Wearable tech has boosted self-confidence for 46 per cent of respondents in the UK and 54 per cent in the US
- 53 per cent of respondents from the UK and 60 per cent of those from the US believe that wearable tech helps them feel more in control of their lives
- 27 per cent of UK respondents and 36 per cent of US respondents use wearable tech to enhance their love lives
“We are at the beginning of massive mainstream uptake of wearable devices, with the launch of Google Glass set to further boost adoption,” said Robert Scoble, Startup Liaison Officer and Technology Evangelist at Rackspace. “However, it is important to note that wearable technology and the cloud go hand in hand – together they provide the rich data insights that help users better manage many aspects of their lives. Cloud computing is powering the wearable technology revolution. It allows the data generated by wearable devices to be captured, analysed and made readily accessible whenever users need it.”
Despite this positive attitude towards wearable technology, many respondents remain concern about privacy issues posed by wearables such as Google Glass.
According to the report:
Despite the many benefits that wearable technology is set to deliver for both consumers and governments, there remain serious concerns about privacy, with over half (51 per cent) of respondents citing it as a barrier to adoption. Almost two thirds (62 per cent) think Google Glass and other wearable devices should be regulated in some form, while one in five (20 per cent) are calling for these devices to be banned entirely.
